Kumho Debuts New SUV and Light Truck H/T TiresKumho Tire - Hearst Owned"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links."SUVs and light trucks have changed dramatically over the last two decades, evolving into more family- and commuter-focused daily drivers. Two new all-season tires aim to address that evolution by improving tread life, handling characteristics, and wet performance.Kumho is rolling out two new tires aimed at the growing crossover, SUV, and light-truck markets. While both target vehicles that increasingly serve as everyday transportation, Kumho has given them distinctly different missions.AdvertisementAdvertisementThe Road Venture HT is a highway-terrain tire for SUV and light-truck owners seeking on-road comfort with enhanced all-weather capability, including severe-snow certification. The Crugen GT Pro is an all-season touring tire focused on the comfort, tread life, and handling needs of modern crossovers and SUVs. The Road Venture HT is available now; the Crugen GT Pro is set to reach consumers in September.The Road Venture family serves the company's light-truck and SUV market, with the HT designation identifying this model specifically as a highway-terrain tire. Crugen, meanwhile, remains Kumho's crossover and SUV touring line, with the new GT Pro sitting squarely in the premium all-season touring category.Both new tires are also EV compatible, reflecting the additional weight and torque demands that electrified SUVs can place on tires.A Kumho R&D rep spotlights the new Road Venture HT and Crugen GT Pro tires for a group of tire dealers and journalists before unleashing us on the track at Evergreen Speedway in Monroe, Washington.Kumho TireRoad & Track was invited to Kumho's annual Ride & Drive Event to try out these new tires at Evergreen Speedway outside of Seattle, where we joined a disparate crew of tire dealers, Kumho reps, and journalists and influencers to put the new tires through their paces. Smoke from Western wildfires added an eerie, orangey hue to the festivities, but luckily, the Audis, Benzes, Beemers, and even an F-150 and a Tacoma had ample AC systems, so none of us left the track wheezing.Road Venture HT: Highway Manners With Winter CapabilityThe Road Venture HT is designed primarily for pavement, but Kumho has engineered more winter capability into it than drivers might expect from a traditional highway tire.Kumho TireKumho Road Venture HTThe HT carries the Three-Peak Mountain Snowflake (3PMSF) symbol, indicating it meets industry requirements for severe-snow traction. Kumho uses a zigzag tread design and waved 3-D interlocking sipes to generate additional biting edges, along with wider lateral shoulder grooves, multi-angle sipes, and independent tread blocks to improve traction and stability.AdvertisementAdvertisementWet performance was another priority. Four wide circumferential grooves evacuate water from the contact patch, while the compound incorporates a high-grip resin. Kumho says third-party testing against competing tires found the HT delivered strong results in ride comfort and wet handling as well as in dry and wet braking. A few hard laps through a makeshift skid pad at Evergreen confirmed the tires' performance on wet asphalt.A next-generation polymer compound incorporating high-dispersible microsilica also improves wear resistance. Kumho claims a 10 percent tread-life improvement over the HT's predecessor, while reinforced polyester body plies increase sidewall stiffness and cornering stability.A makeshift skid pad was a particularly fun part of our testing gauntlet.Kumho TireThe Road Venture HT is offered in more than 40 sizes for wheels ranging from 15 to 22 inches. P-metric versions carry a 75,000-mile limited treadwear warranty, while LT-metric versions are backed for 50,000 miles.Crugen GT Pro Targets the Modern SUVWhile the Road Venture HT adds capability to the traditional highway tire formula, the new Crugen GT Pro focuses on refinement.AdvertisementAdvertisementDesigned for increasingly large and heavy SUVs, the GT Pro uses Kumho's K-Maxmile technology and a new tread compound to improve wear resistance by as much as 20 percent over its predecessor. An optimized contact patch is designed to distribute forces more evenly and promote consistent wear, and Kumho backs the GT Pro with a 75,000-mile treadwear warranty.Kumho Crugen GT ProRide refinement is addressed through Kumho's K-Noise Defender technology, which incorporates resonance-reducing elements into the tread. The company claims this design can reduce noise by as much as 0.8 dB. Rounded treadblock edges are also intended to reduce noise and soften impacts.For wet and light-snow conditions, Kumho uses wave-shaped sipes that increase treadblock rigidity, while wider lateral grooves and what the company calls Dual Performance Block Technology help improve wet braking and hydroplaning resistance.A smattering of orange cones outlined the autocross course in the midfield of Evergreen Speedway. Many did not survive the day.Kumho TireThe Crugen GT Pro will have a considerably broader initial footprint than the HT, with 85 sizes spanning 16- to 22-inch wheels. Kumho says those sizes provide fitments for more than 85 percent of the current crossover and SUV market, including an extensive selection for increasingly common 20-, 21- and 22-inch wheels.A New Start for KumhoKumho hopes its new taxonomy and improved performance of both tires will strengthen its hold on the North American car and truck tire market.Kumho TireTogether, the two tires give Kumho a broader attack on the booming SUV and light truck market. The Road Venture HT is available now for drivers who want highway comfort with added truck and winter capability. The Crugen GT Pro follows in September, targeting crossover and SUV owners who put quietness, mileage, and touring performance at the top of their lists.Photo credit: Kumho TirePhoto credit: Kumho TireAdvertisementAdvertisementPhoto credit: Kumho TirePhoto credit: Kumho TirePhoto credit: Kumho TirePhoto credit: Kumho TireAdvertisementAdvertisementPhoto credit: Kumho TirePhoto credit: Kumho TirePhoto credit: Kumho TireYou Might Also LikeIf You Can Only Own One Car, Make It One of TheseThese Are the Most Popular Cars by State
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